Draft:Jonathan Fiske

Jonanthan Fiske (May 1, 1751 – 1826) was a Rhode Island judge and politician who served in the state legislature.

Born in Wenham, Massachusetts, Fiske was the eldest son of William Fiske, Sr., of Amherst, Massachusetts. Fiske established himself in the northwest parish of that town, and later moved to Francestown, New Hampshire, where he resided several years, and where his younger children were born. In 1790 he was chosen deacon of the Congregational church in Francestown and officiated in that capacity until September 1794, when he moved to Williamstown, Vermont, where he was again elected deacon and to various other offices.

He represented Williamstown in the state legislature for some twenty years in succession, and afterward at various times. He was also judge of probate at an early date, and continued in that office "until his sight failed and until too old and otherwise infirm to discharge its duties".

"m. Nov. 26, 1772, Mrs. Mary Bragg. A correspondent writes: "Judge Fiske was a justice of the peace and town clerk in Williamstown from my earliest recollection until a brief period before his death, and as such made public all the marriages, and did most of the marrying. He was also a deacon in the Congregational church at Williamstown further back than I can remember, and when he died his mantle fell on two of his worthy sons now living." From a file of the Wenham records it appears that Judge Jonathan Fiske was married to Mrs. Mary Bragg by Rev. Joseph Swain in Dec, 1772. They were the parents of twelve children, eight sons and five daughters."